ABSTRACT

Technical search is one of many emergency response tasks. Its organiza­tional structure poses interesting challenges for effective human-robot inter­action. Here we summarize this structure (for more detail, see Casper, 2002).In the United States, operations at a mass-casualty incident are divided into 12 emergency support functions, ranging from medical support to logistics. Each emergency support function is conducted by a specially trained task force and coordinated through an incident commander and the incident com­mand staff. USAR is one function within the larger incident organization. Technical search, as seen in Figure 1, is one of the four USAR subspecialties within the task force: search, technical support, medical, and rescue or extrica­tion. Although no two disasters are managed precisely the same way, USAR operations often begin with a manual reconnaissance of the area of damage, called the hot zone. Victims on the surface or easily removed from light rubble are extracted immediately as encountered. After reconnaissance, the com­mand staff determines what the safest strategy is to effectively search the hot zone for survivors within the rubble. In areas that are deemed safe for people and dogs to investigate, canine teams may be sent forward.USAR personnel require advanced training and equipment; this training is usually conducted by a designated federal or state task force. There are cur­rently 28 federal task forces recognized by the Federal Emergency Manage­ment Agency and up to four times as many teams responsible for highly populated urban areas of states. Both federal and regional teams typically share the same organization, fielding a 56-person task force to sustain opera­tions around the clock (in 12-hr shifts) for a maximum of 10 consecutive days. The teams are composed of firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians and civilians, most often in canine searches, structures, and haz­ardous materials tasks. USAR workers routinely log over 200 hr of USAR-spe-cific training each year. Personnel who conduct technical searches are highly trained members of a cohesive team. They usually work in pairs for safety.